Rail-joint.



L. W. MACER.

RAIL JOINT.

1915. 1,222,31 & Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

TTET) @TATE% PATENT @lEFlltlllil.

LIONEL WILLIAM MACER, OF PILG-RIMS REST, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA.

Application filed June 23, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIONEL l/VILLIAM MACER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Pilgrims Rest, Transvaal, Province of the Union of South Africa, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention consists in improved means for joining the ends of railroad and like rails, which means may also be employed for supporting and securing the rail between its ends. The device can be fitted up more rapidly and with less labor and cost than the usual fish plate joint. It is especially applicable to light portable railways.

The accompanying drawing shows the invention applied as a rail joint; Figure I being a perspective view and Fig. 11 a transverse section taken through the meeting ends of the rails.

The means comprises a sole plate or sleeper 1 provided with members 3 which extend upwardly and usually somewhat inwardly, forming between them a trough. The bases l of the meeting ends of the rails 2 rest in the bottom of the trough which is just wide enough for them to pass freely into it.

The locking means consists of a plain plate 5 driven in between the underside of the head 6 of the rail and the angle formed between the upwardly directed members 3 of the sole plate and the base flange 4 of the rail. By this means the rail and sole plate are frictionally bound together.

In order to facilitate the insertion and tight fitting of the locking plate, it is prefer- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1M), 1917.

Serial No. 35,763.

able to taper the edges 7 very slightly, that is to make the distance between said edges 7 rather less at the entering end of the plate than at the other or driving end.

For a joint it is desirable to have a locking plate 5 at each side of the rails as shown, said plates being driven in from opposite directions. Each plate binds its rail to the sole plate which thus forms the connection between the rails. The plates may if desired be driven past and bridge the meeting point of the rails, as shown, to assist in making a stiff and even joint.

The plates 5 may conveniently be stamped from sheet metal. They may if desired be secured in place by any suitable means such as set screws 8 taking into the web 9 of the rails.

When used simply as a support or chair, the device is applied as described, but at suitable points between the ends of a rail, instead of at the meeting ends of two rails.

I claim,

In a rail joint or support, the combination with a rail length having a head and flat base, of a sole plate or sleeper having upwardly directed members substantially fitting to the rail base, and locking means formed of a flat plate driven in with its edges engaging respectively the underside of the head and the angle formed between the rail base and said upwardly directed members.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LIONEL WILLIAM MAGER.

Witnesses:

V. WARD, J. A. CULLEN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

